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.aspx) The City of Jacksonville NC
Invites Interest in the Position of
City Manager
Jacksonville North Carolina An Exciting Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity to provide leadership and management to a growing and progressive community with a high quality of life. The City of Jacksonville is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. With a population of 81,873 Citizens, a land area of 43.71 square miles, Jacksonville has a wide array of residential housing and a diversified high quality commercial base.
Jacksonville was incorporated as a City was in 1842 and has operated under the Council-Manager form of government since 1953. The annual operating budget is $70,934,929 million, plus a current capital budget of $18,589,778 million, and there are approximately 520 City employees. The City provides a full-range of municipal services including planning and community development; police and fire protection; water, sewer and sanitation services; construction and maintenance of streets and other infrastructure; and cultural and recreational activities. The City recently occupied a $6 million Public Services Complex, a $6 million renovated and expanded City Hall and is the process of designing a potential $22 million Public Safety complex. The City has won significant recognition for a successful bioremediation program to restore habitat to a polluted bay and has expanding this program to other areas.
The City Council is the governing body of the City. The Mayor and two Council members are elected at-large and four Council members are elected by district for four-year, staggered terms.
The City Manager serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the City.
View the official City Manager Position Information Packet.
About the Candidate
The City of Jacksonville is seeking a proven, dedicated, visionary, innovative and experienced individual for its new City Manager. The City prefers as its Chief Executive Officer an individual who has a background as a city manager in a large, growing city, and who is a strong leader, manager and administrator.
The successful individual will also possess as a minimum a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university with a major in Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field. A Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field is preferred. An ICMA Credentialed Manager would also be a plus.
The ideal candidate should possess substantial progressively responsible experience in city administration/management. Local government experience in a similar-sized community in North Carolina would be a plus, as would experience in a growing City and in a military community or in a community with one large employer.
The ideal candidate for the Jacksonville City Manager position should be a strong intelligent, visionary leader who is well-organized and understands management and leadership. The successful candidate for the City Manager position should possess a high energy level and should possess a wide knowledge of public administration and finance and acuity and experience with urban governance issues. The ideal candidate will be a person who gives direction to staff and instills creativity in them, who is involved in the community, who can think innovatively and creatively as an individual and who is not afraid to change the status quo. The successful candidate should also possess a collaborative management style, be committed to diversity in the workplace and in the community and be receptive to input from Council and Citizens on key issues.
The new City Manager of Jacksonville should have a track record of leadership success in his/her previous assignment, a clear and effective writing style, skills as a public speaker and experience with the news media. Other key characteristics of the successful candidate include being up to date technologically, being an effective manager of projects, being willing to take on tough issues and resolve them to satisfaction and being a team player with Council and staff. The City has funded a communications project to “tell the story of the City” and the new City Manager should be fully engaged in that effort. In addition, the successful candidate should have some experience with successful industrial and business development.
Other attributes of the successful candidate for City Manager of Jacksonville include someone who assigns responsibility, but holds staff accountable for keeping him/her informed on key issues. A personable and out-going individual is needed, along with conflict resolution skills and the ability to effectively delegate. The successful candidate should be an active listener, a great communicator and a hard worker who can build needed coalitions to tackle tough local issues.
About the Position
The City Manager of the City of Jacksonville shall be responsible to the Mayor/City Council for the proper administration of all City affairs assigned by the City Charter, ordinance, employment agreement, or directive.
The principal job duties include:
- Overseeing the preparation of a recommended annual budget for Council deliberation. Implementing Council’s adopted budget.
- Ensuring fiscal viability of City through adequate long range financial forecasting and planning, sound financial policies, investment portfolio management, and capital improvement programming.
- Seeking to identify new and innovative ways of delivering services. Reviewing existing operations to identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, eliminating unnecessary expenses, and reducing cost while maintaining and/or improving service delivery.
- Assuring a high level of competent Citizen Service from all City employees and assurance of a “How can we help?” City culture.
- Assisting City Council in the development of the City Council Goals and Objectives and integrating those into a strategic plan.
- Being responsible for the selection, training, development, motivation, evaluation, and removal of department directors.
- Attending all Council meetings. Preparing agendas for City Council meetings. Identifying policy options and their pros/cons.
- Assuring that all Council ordinances are adopted. Preparing and implementing administrative procedures and controls to carry out various managerial stewardship functions including personnel administration, financial management, and purchasing.
- Interfacing with other local governmental and military officials. Identifying and recommending appropriate opportunities for joint ventures and cooperative efforts between these entities.
- Engaging all City employees in the process to ensure that Citizens are aware of City services, benefits and opportunities.
- Responding to and resolving difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints having an impact upon the public image of the City of Jacksonville.
- Representing the City before the public during public activities and functions, as appropriate.
About the City of Jacksonville
The City of Jacksonville, incorporated in 1842, is located along the New River in the southeastern part of North Carolina. Jacksonville currently occupies 43.71 square miles and is the County seat of Onslow County. Jacksonville is the commercial hub of Onslow County and is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. Some 81,873 people make the City their home and make Jacksonville the tenth largest community in North Carolina. The once quiet farming community has grown into the business, retail, medical, banking and cultural center for Onslow County.
Jacksonville is less than an hour away from two major seaports (Wilmington and Morehead City) where large quantities of raw and finished products are exported and imported. Flight service is provided through Albert J. Ellis Airport. The City is easily accessible via US 258, I-40, NC 24 and US 17, which runs north and south along the Atlantic coast.
In 1992, Jacksonville was named an All-America City by the National Civic League. This award was the direct result of the active involvement of Citizens in solving problems, advancing solutions and in the governance of the community. Jacksonville promotes the collaborative interaction of Citizens, government, business and the voluntary sector in the resolution of public issues and the solving of shared problems.
The major industries located within the City’s boundaries or in close proximity are government (including several military installations), retail, hotel/food services, education and healthcare. The City has been fortunate to continue experiencing expansion, and has weathered the current economic situation buoyed by the stable government payroll in the community. Overall the value of new construction in 2008 was $159.9 million. The construction of retail stores, restaurants and office complexes is consistent with construction in recent years.
Camp Lejeune and the New River Air Station remain the largest single employers in the area and more than 70 percent of their personnel live off-base. Military connected payrolls and benefits paid exceed an estimated $8.3 billion annually. During the last four years, Camp Lejeune officials saw the creation of three new battalions headquartered on the base. Coast Guard officials have announced plans to expand a new training facility at Camp Lejeune. Several types of Coast Guard port security training only takes place at Camp Lejeune as a result of the efforts by Homeland Security to bolster their efforts.
The most significant increase came as a result of the Congressional approved “Grow the Force” initiative for the Marine Corps. By 2012, the Marine Corps will have a troop strength of 202,000 with most of the increase in manpower being assigned to Camp Lejeune. In total, about 11,500 new military and civilian positions are already in effect in the area bases.
The New River Air Station is headquarters to the V22 Osprey, and will provide training for Air Force pilots as well as Marine pilots who will fly the advanced vertical take off and landing aircraft. A new squadron is temporarily located at Cherry Point until additional hangers and barracks can be completed at the New River Air Station. Military construction is strong with new projects being announced regularly. Construction jobs in the Jacksonville area ranks fifth in the list of occupational areas as a result of the large number of persons employed to meet military and other construction needs in the community.
Recently the realignment of the command structure for the Marine Corps provided the headquarters for all east coast bases to be located aboard Camp Lejeune. Combined with the already existing command structure for deployable east coast forces being headquartered at Lejeune, and the creation of the anti-terrorism battalion at Lejeune, leave the area expecting a significant number of higher-ranked Marine and other military officers among the new positions and continuing positions in the area.
The Jacksonville City Council initiated action to improve the quality of life in the City in order to improve the economic benefits for the Citizens. Camp Lejeune and the New River Air Station have ranked consistently high on the “Best Places to Live” rankings by the Marine Times and Military Relocation Magazine. Contributing to the desire to increase economic diversification, the City has launched a series of initiatives to improve the quality of life of its citizens. The City also created a business park designed to harbor businesses and industries that cater to the spouses of military and are low impact to the community’s infrastructure.
As part of diversification and quality of life improvements, the City led the effort to create a Sports Commission to improve sports related tourism and to ‘keep tournaments at home,’ a nonprofit designed to advance downtown redevelopment efforts, a volunteer center to channel the “Caring Community” attributes of the community into positive actions and created the Jacksonville Youth Council, a student-led self-governing group designed to give youth a voice in the City and to advise the Mayor and City Council.
Improvements to the quality of life have been seen as beneficial to the military which provides a source of pride and economic stability to the community, as well as an enhancement to industrial and business diversification as desired by the Council. In 2008, the community was listed as a top 100 community for “Best Small Places for Business and Careers” by Forbes, a consistent top performer for “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” by Parents and BusinessWeek magazines, “Best Place for a Stable Career” by CNNMoney.com and on various other lists. In creating the Jacksonville Transit routes, the City Council intentionally selected routing that would benefit the on-base military as well as continue service to other areas of the City.
All indications are that economic growth will continue to increase. While having a positive impact, this growth also presents significant challenges for the City. If the present high level of City services is to be maintained, the City, in the future, will need to explore new methods of obtaining financial resources.
As part of a proud tradition and in recognition of a unique activity undertaken by a local government, City was recognized for having the Best Coastal Habitat Restoration Project by the NC Coastal Federation. This recognition was for a huge bioremediation project that has restored life to the previously heavily polluted Wilson Bay. The Council at the time of the initiation of the special project, said they had a “moral obligation” to help restore water quality to the New River and to improve habitat.
The success of this project, using volunteers, grants and City staff, has created opportunities for replication, civic and environmental education for hundreds of youth and adults and is the impetus for a nonprofit organization formed by the City to create an Environmental Education Center.
Jacksonville City Government
The City of Jacksonville is governed by a Council-Manager form of government and has been since 1953. Policy-making and legislative authority are vested in a governing council (City Council) consisting of a directly-elected Mayor and six City Council members. Two Council members and the Mayor are elected at-large and four Council members are elected by district for four-year, staggered terms. The Mayor and Council make appointments to various boards and commissions and the Council appoints the City Manager and City Attorney. The City Manager serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the City and is responsible for enforcement of laws and ordinances, delivery of services, planning and budgetary management.
The City of Jacksonville provides a full range of services, including planning and community development; police and fire protection; water, sewer and sanitation services; the construction and maintenance of streets and other infrastructure; and cultural and recreational activities.
The Jacksonville City Government is well-regarded as a fiscally-conservative, well-managed and technologically-advanced local government.
The City is in excellent condition financially.
Compensation
The starting salary for the City Manager of the City of Jacksonville will be market competitive, depending on the experience and qualifications of the selected individual. The City offers a competitive negotiable salary DOQ, plus auto allowance and competitive fringe benefit program. Reasonable relocation expenses will also be provided to the successful candidate.
How to Apply
For additional information on this outstanding opportunity, please contact Attorney John T. Carter, Jr. at jcarter@ci.jacksonville.nc.us or fax 910.938.5023.
Confidential resumes should be sent by mail or email by the close of business, December 15, 2009 to:
John T. Carter, Jr.
PO Box 128
Jacksonville, NC 28541
jcarter@ci.jacksonville.nc.us
The City of Jacksonville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minority and Female Candidates are encouraged to apply.
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